By I. Hansana, Jadetimes News
A court in Guinea sentenced former military leader Moussa Dadis Camara to 20 years in prison for crimes against humanity. This decision followed a two year trial regarding his violent suppression of an opposition rally in Conakry in 2009, which resulted in the deaths of at least 156 people and the rapes of 109 women, as reported by a United Nations inquiry.
The charges, which included murder, rape, torture, and kidnapping, were deemed crimes against humanity by the court. Alongside Camara, seven other military commanders were also sentenced, while four defendants were acquitted.
During the trial, which began in 2022, over 100 survivors and relatives of victims provided testimony. The court mandated compensation for the victims, ranging from 200 million to 1.5 billion Guinean francs ($23,000 to $174,000).
Reactions to the verdict varied among the victims' families, with some praising it as a form of justice and others criticizing the punishment as insufficient. Safiatou Balde, a relative of a victim, expressed dissatisfaction, citing the severe nature of the crimes.
Alfa Amadou DS Bah, the lead lawyer for the plaintiffs, emphasized the significance of the verdict, noting it was the first time a former head of state and senior military officers were convicted for such grave offenses. Human Rights Watch also commended the judgement, with Tamara Aburamadan highlighting its potential impact on high level perpetrators in Guinea and beyond.
Defense lawyers argued that reclassifying the charges as crimes against humanity on the day of the ruling compromised the defendants' ability to adequately defend themselves, infringing on their right to a fair trial. Both the accused and the plaintiffs have 15 days to appeal the verdict. The trial has occurred amidst ongoing repression of the opposition and media by Guinea's current military rulers.
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